Service dog handlers are required by law, local ordinance, and custom to abide by certain guidelines that are for the benefit of the public. Each service dog handler must remember that he or she is an ambassador for the service dog community. Mistakes may make life harder for the next animal/handler team that comes along. |
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A good service dog handler knows that he or she:
- Has the responsibility of ensuring the safety of their dog while at home, school, at work, and in public settings.
- Needs to adhere to what is considered to be socially acceptable behavior.
- Should, with rare exceptions, keep the dog on a leash when outside or in public settings.
- Should avoid contact with strange dogs, due to the potential of a fight or other disturbance.
- Must keep in mind that, though not required by law, a service dog should wear its identifying equipment out in public.
- Will meet people who are attracted to the dog. People will want to know about the dog. A responsible handler should respond to questions politely, even if only to say: “I’m sorry; I can’t talk to you right now.”
- Needs to respect the rights of others. Some people are afraid of dogs, allergic to dogs or religiously opposed to contact with dogs. Still others believe that dogs are dirty and have no place in public settings.
- Should teach their dog to be responsive to the handler, and behave, as much as possible, as if it were invisible. A service dog should not: Toilet in inappropriate places or where people will be walking or sitting; sniff people, store shelves, restaurant tables or the personal belongings of others. The dog should not initiate contact with someone without direct permission, or bark, whine, growl, or make any disruptive noises.
- Is responsible for cleaning up any mess the dog makes, and repairing or replacing any property that may be accidentally damaged.
- Needs to keep the dog clean and well groomed.
As you can see, life with a service dog is hard work. No one is perfect, but a good handler strives to meet these standards.
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